After the Civil War there were many questions that needed to be answered about the former Confederacy and about the newly freed slaves. Some of these questions were: How should the new relationship of the former Confederacy and the Union be handled? What should be demanded of those states? Should anyone be punished for the Confederate rebellion? What should happen to the newly freed slaves and what rights should they receive?

The period assigned to the reconstruction is from 1865 to 1877 but many of these questions were debated before and after that time period.

The topic of reconstruction came about at an early time during the war required increased attention as the Northern Victory came closer. As the Union gained control of territory the question came up to how should these territories or areas be governed? When Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which freed all slaves...